Safety can



INVENTOR 1 v 3 WWW BY H I ATTO R EY a H. RAsMuss E SAFETY CAN March 3; 1942.

- Filed Oct. 4; 1939 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 SAFETY CAN Hans Rasmussen, Everett, Mass, assignor to Dover Stamping and Manufacturing Company, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 4, 1939, Serial No. 297,789

4 Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in safety cans for holding and for dispensing gasoline and other inflammable or explosive fluids.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a can having all requisite attributes for safety, and one convenient for filling and for dispensing. An especial object is to provide a can which will retain its elements of safety under conditions of rough or careless usage.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a safety can embodying the invention, the can body being shown only in part.-

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section, certain of the parts being shown in dotted lines for indicating their position during dispensing of the contents of the can, and also during the filling of the can.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the combination nozzle and valve casing later to be referred to; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of the latch later to be referred to.

Referring to the drawing, l represents the can body having a top 2 over which extends a handle 3 by which the can is carried, or tipped for pouring. The handle is provided with end straps 4 and 5, respectively, of which the strap 4 is bent down and secured to the top of the can, and

the strap 5 to the side of the can.

In the top 2 are openings 6 and 1, respectively. The opening 6 is the pour-out opening for the can, and, also, the one through which the can is filled. The opening 1 is the one through which atmospheric air is admitted to the interior of the can for replacing discharged fluid and thus facilitating pouring. The opening 1 is, also, a vent forming opening for the relief of any undue pressure that may accrue within the chamber of the can.

Extending from the top of the can in extension of the pour-out opening 6 is a collar 8. This collar is borne by an annular base piece 9 secured, as by welding, to the top of the can. The collar 8 is provided with an inside annular ledge, or shoulder, I 0. Supported from off this shoulder is a double wire guard cylinder, composed of nested elements II and I2, to prevent the accidental ignitionof fluid, or gas, within the can. Of these elements the element H is provided at its top with a flange l3 resting upon the ledge ID of the collar and from this flange, thus resting, the element extends downwardly through the pour-out opening 6 into the chamber of the 55 position is defined by a pin 3| can. The interior one [2 of the elements is contained within the element H resting on the bottom l4 thereof.

Co-ordinating with the collar 8 is a combination pour-out nozzle and valve casing [5 with interior passage [6 through which the liquid contents of the can is discharged during the pouring out operation. This casing has a snout I1, and attached to this snout in extension thereof is a delivery pipe l8. The casing l5 co-ordi- 'nates with the collar 6 by resting upon the top edge l9 thereof, providing a seat. A tight jointed engagement is obtained between'the casing and this seat by broadening the bottom of the easing into an inverted cup 20 which fits over the top edge of the cap. Located within this cup is a washer 2| against which the top edge of the collar has bearing, thus enabling a tight joint to be obtained between the collar and cup.

The casing I5 is a pivoted casing there being aflixed thereto an arm 22 pivotally connected to a bracket 23 aflixed to the collar 8 and base piece 9 on which the collar is mounted. The pivotal arrangement is such as will enable the casing to be turned forward away from the top end of the collar into an out of the way position substantially as shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 2. When the casing is thus occupying its out of the way position direct access is had to the collar and interior of the can, enabling the can to be filled by a funnel 24 inserted within the collar and which then acts to hold the casing open.

The casing is controlled by a spring 25 to normally, though releasably, maintain its closed engagement with the collar, or, when open, to automatically return to such closed engagement. Thus, when the spout is removed after filling, the casing will be automatically returned by the spring'25 to its closed engagement with the collar without need of manual operation.

When in closed engagement with the collar 8 the casing is held to maintain its engagement by means of a spring latch 25. This latch is borne by a hub 2! pivoted to a bracket 28 on the collar and base piece on which the collar is mounted. The latch is provided with a jaw 29 which, when the casing l 5 is occupying its closed position with the collar, extends to have bearing engagement with the top of the cup 20 at the bottom of the casing, thus maintaining the casing in its closed position. The latch is controlled to normally maintain an engaging position by means of a spring 30 and its engaging on the hub 21 engaging a stop 32 on the bracket 28. The latch is provided with a finger piece 33 by which it may be turned into a disengaging position, thus releasing the nozzle casing and enabling its turning to an open position as for filling. When the finger is released from the finger control of the latch it will be returned by the spring 30 to its engaging position in order that it may be automatically opened when the casing is closed. To this end the jaw engaging end of the latch is provided with a rounded fore edge 34 which is struck by the cup 20 on the bottom of the casing during the closure thereof, displacing the latch into an open position and thus enabling closure of the casing, after which the latch will auto-- matically resume its engaging position to hold the casing closed. Thus upon the removal of the funnel 24 after filling, the casing 15 will automatically return to make closed engagement with the end of the collar and become locked in such engagement, for the casing will be automatically returned to its closed engagement with the collar by means of the spring 25, whereupon the latch will first be snapped back into a' disengaging position, but after closure of the casing will again automatically resume its engageing position for maintaining such closure.

The pour-out passage through the casing I2 is valve controlled. Within the casing is a partition or diaphragm 35 having within it a port 35, the passage through the casing, by reason of the partition, extending only through this port. The port is controlled by a valve 31 held in a normally closed position by a spring 38 interposed between the valve and adjacent side of the casing, the spring being caged in suitable manner. Fixed to the valve, preferably through threaded connection'therewith, is a socket bearing element 39 on the'outlet'side of the valve, and socketed within the end of this element is the end of a slidable stem 40 which extends through a boss 4| on the side of the casing with outside extension beyond the boss. The stem is maintained against outward displacement by a collar 42 thereon inside the casing.

The valve 31 is opened, thus enabling passage through the port 35, upon an application of pressure to the end of the stem 44 and will automatically become closed when such pressure is relieved. Pressure is applied to the stem and control otherwise automatically effected in the following manner. The stem 40 extends through a slot 44 in the strap 4 of the handle. Bearing against the end of the stem thus extending is the flattened outer end of a curved lever 45. This lever is pivoted to arms 45 on the strap 4. Pivotally connecting with the inner end of this lever is the arm 41 of an angularly bent lever 48 having an arm 49 forming a grip by which the lever may be turned. The angle lever 48 is pivoted to arms 50 aflixed to the top of the can. The grip forming arm 49 of the lever extends beneath but adjacent to the handle of the can so that one grasping the handle will be enabled also to grasp the arm 49 of the lever andby a gripping movement turn the lever. in a clockwise direction, thereby exerting pressure upon the stem 40 to open the valve 31. When the arm 49 is released upon the release of gripping engagement therewith the pressure upon the stem will be relieved and thereupon the valve 31 will be automatically closed by the spring 38, and the same spring will act through the valve and stem 40 to return the levers 45 and 48 to their initial position.

Extending from the top of the can in extension of the opening I therein is a collar 5| similar to the collar 8 previously referred to. The passage through the opening 1 is continued upwardly through this collar. Bearing against the top edge of this collar for closing the passage through it is a cup-shaped valve 53 borne by the outer arm 54 of a lever 55 pivoted to arms 55 suitably fixed to the top of the can. The inner arm 51 of this lever extends beneath a spur 58 extending from the apex of the angularly bent lever 48. The valve 53 is held normally though releasably closed by a spring 59 which bears against the arm 54 of the lever bearing the valve. The arrangement is such that when the lever 48 is turned in a clockwise direction for opening the valve 31 the bearing of the spur 58 against the lever 55 will turn this lever and thereby open the valve 53 permitting air to enter the can body through the opening 1. During this operation, owing to the tensioning of the springs 38 and 59, all operating parts lying between these springs including the valve 31, the stem 43, the levers 45, 43 and 55, will be maintained in proper working relation. As previously explained, the levers 45 and 48 will be returned to their normal position by the action of the spring 31 when gripping pressure on the lever 48 is relieved. This normal position of the lovers 45 and 43 is defined by the bearing of the spur on the lever 43 against the lever 55 for when the lever 55 is returned to its normal closed position by the spring 59 it will operate to assist in returning the levers 45 and 43 to their normal position and will define such position, being that position assumed by the lever 55 when the valve 53 is closed. Proper positioning and co-ordination between the levers in relation to each other and the parts controlled 'by them is initially obtained by the pivotal connection between the levers 45 and 43, this pivotal connection being an adjustable connection owing to the slot 68 in the arm of the lever 45 which permits of adjustment and change of leverage. The arrangement is, also, one in which the valve 53 may automatically be opened for relieving undue pressure within the can without disturbing other operable elements.

I claim:

1. A safety can comprising a can body having an opening in its top with seat at the entrance to said opening, a combination pour-out nozzle and valve casing fitted to have closed engagement with said seat, means for pivotally supporting said casing to be movable into and out of closed engagement with said seat, a manually releasable spring latch for holding said casing in closed engagement with said seat including means whereby said latch may automatically be turned by the operation of said casing during the closure thereof into a disengaging position and released to automatically assume locking engagement with said casing when the casing is in engagement with said seat, valvular means for controlling the passage through said casing including a valve located within said casing and a stem operable from outside said casing, and manually operating means for opening said valve when said casing is in its closed position with said seat.

2. A safety can comprising a can body having an opening in its top with seat at the entrance to said opening, a combination pour-out nozzle and valve casing fitted to have closed engagement with said seat, means for pivotally supporting said casing to be movable into and out of closed engagement with said seat, tension means for holding said casing in closed engagement with said seat and for automatically returning it-into its closed position when opened, a manually releasable spring latch for holding said casing in closed engagement with said seat including means whereby said latch may automatically be turned by the operation of said casing during the closure thereof into a disengaging position and released to automatically assume locking engagement with said casing when the casing is in engagement with said seat, valvular means for controlling the passage through said casing including a valve located with said casing and a stem operable from outside said casing, and manually operating means for opening said valve when said casing is in closed engagement with said seat.

3. A safety can comprising a can body having openings in its top, one a pour-out opening and the other a vent opening, seats at the entrance to said respective openings, a combination pourout nozzle and valve casing fitted to have closed engagement with the seat at the entrance of said pour-out opening, means for pivotally supporting said casing to be movable into and out of closed engagement with its seat, tension means for holding said casing in closed engagement with its seat and for automatically returning it into its closed position when open, a valve fitted to have closed engagement with the seat at the entrance to said vent opening, a spring controlled pivoted lever bearing said valve for holding it normally closed, valvular means for controlling the passage through said combination pour-out nozzle and valve casing including a valve, a spring for holding the valve normally closed and a stem for operating the valve operable from outside said casing on application of pressure thereto, a handle to the can body, and mechanism contained between the handle and the can body for applying pressure to said stem to open said valve which controls the passage through said casing and for turning said lever for opening the valve controlling the entrance to said vent including a set of pivoted levers operatively connected located between said handle and the can body, one an angular lever having a grip forming arm adjacent said handle whereby it may be gripped and turned by one grasping said handle, and means borne by said angular lever whereby during the turning thereof it may actuate the lever bearing the valve controlling entrance to said vent to open said vent controlling valve.

4. A safety can comprising a can body having openings in its top, one a pour-out and filling opening and the other a vent opening, with seats at the entrance to said respective openings, a combination pour-out nozzle and valve casing fitted to have closed engagement with the seat at the entrance to said pour-out and filling opening, means for pivotally supporting said casing to be movable into and out of closed engagement with its seat, tension means for normally holding said casing in closed engagement with its seat and for automatically returning it to its closed position after opening, a valve fitted to have closed engagement with the seat at the entrance to said vent opening, a pivoted lever bearing said valve, tension means controlling said lever for holding said valve normally closed but allowing its opening for relieving undue pressure within the can body, valvular means for controlling the passage through said combination pour-out nozzle and valve casing including a valve located within said casing, tension means for holding said casing valve normally closed and a stem for opening the valve operable from outside said casing, a handle to said can, an angular lever located within the enclosure between the handle and the can body having a grip forming arm located adjacent said handle whereby it may be gripped and the angular lever turned by one gripping the handle, means for pivotally mounting said lever on said can body whereby it may be turned in a clockwise direction by one grasping the handle of said can, means whereby said casing valve may be opened through operative connection with the stem thereof as said angular lever is turned in a clockwise direction, and means whereby the valve controlling said vent may be opened through operative connection with the pivoted lever bearing said valve as the angular lever is turned in a clockwise direction, said last named. means permitting of the vent valve being opened by undue pressure within the can body when the vent valve is in a closed position.

HANS RASMUSSEN. 

